Shadow Blades

Assassin 9 + Elf 3: endless backstab leaps that always max-crit.

Every Assassin leaps behind enemy lines and lands a random crit. At 6 the crits are 400%, and at 9 each kill refreshes the leap and the leap always deals the maximum crit - backlines evaporate. Queen of Pain is the lone Demon (pure attacks).

Final board

• Magnus (4)
• Sand King (3)
• Faceless Void (2)
• Slark (2)
• Kez (3)
• Phantom Assassin (4)
• Viper (3)
• Queen of Pain (5)
• Templar Assassin (5)
• Morphling (5)

Core items

• Daedalus
• Monkey King Bar
• Butterfly
• Black King Bar

How to play

1. Spirit Breaker, Faceless Void, Slark, Riki: Assassin 3 early.
2. Viper, Sand King, Kez and Phantom Assassin at 6-7 for Assassin 6.
3. Hold gold to level 10 and dig 5-costs (Templar Assassin, Queen of Pain, Morphling).
4. Magnus (Centaur) and Sand King stay in front to soak hits.
5. Only go 9 if 4-5 cost Assassins are not contested; otherwise stop at 6 with Elf 3.

Strengths

• Kills carries before they cast.

Weaknesses

• Needs level 10 + many 4-5 costs; weak to Knights and Elf evasion.